Derby County vs Leicester City — Match Preview
The East Midlands Derby takes center stage this Saturday lunchtime as Derby County welcome bitter rivals Leicester City to Pride Park. This fixture is always charged with emotion, but the current league standings add an extra layer of desperation for both sides.
Derby County, managed by John Eustace, are enjoying a resurgence. Sitting 11th, they have won three of their last five matches, including impressive victories over Swansea and Hull. Pride Park has become a fortress again, and the Rams fans will be sensing blood against a faltering Foxes side.
Leicester City, under Martí Cifuentes, are in crisis. Languishing in 16th place, they have lost back-to-back games against Southampton (0-3) and Sheffield United (2-3).3 The pressure is mounting on the Spaniard to turn things around. A loss to their local rivals could be the final straw for a fanbase that expected a promotion push, not a relegation scrap.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Derby County vs Leicester City
- Competition: EFL Championship (Matchday 19)
- Venue: Pride Park Stadium, Derby (Capacity: 33,597)
- Date: Saturday, 06 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 12:30 GMT / 13:30 CET / 18:00 IST
- Referee: Josh Smith
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Football / Main Event
- TV Channel (International): RamsTV, Foxes Hub
- Live Stream: Sky Go, FanCode (India)
Derby County vs Leicester City — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Derby County:
- Position: 11th in Championship (26 Points).
- Form: Good. Recent wins against Hull (2-1) and Blackburn (2-1) have lifted the mood. However, a slip-up against Watford (2-3) shows they are still vulnerable defensively.
- Current Challenge: Maintaining momentum. Eustace has found a system that works, but injuries to key midfielders like Lewis Travis and David Ozoh are testing the squad’s depth.
Leicester City:
- Position: 16th in Championship (24 Points).
- Form: Poor. They have won just one of their last five league games (a 2-1 win vs Stoke). The defense is leaking goals (8 conceded in 3 games).
- Current Challenge: Defensive Fragility. With Harry Souttar and Caleb Okoli out, and Wout Faes questionable, the backline is makeshift and lacking confidence.
Derby County vs Leicester City — What’s at Stake
For Derby County:
- Top Half Cementation: A win would take them to 29 points, potentially moving them within touching distance of the playoffs and 5 points clear of Leicester.
- Bragging Rights: Beating Leicester is always the priority. Doing it while Leicester are struggling would be sweet for the Pride Park faithful.
For Leicester City:
- Crisis Management: Cifuentes needs a result to stop the freefall. Losing three in a row—especially a derby—would create a toxic atmosphere at the King Power.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Team Form
Derby County (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Middlesbrough (1-2)
- W vs Swansea City (2-1)
- L vs Watford (2-3)
- W vs Blackburn Rovers (2-1)
- W vs Hull City (2-1)
Leicester City (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Sheffield United (2-3)
- L vs Southampton (0-3)
- W vs Stoke City (2-1)
- W vs Norwich City (2-1)
- D vs Middlesbrough (1-1)
Derby County vs Leicester City — Team News
Derby County:
- Injury Blows: The Rams are missing significant bite in midfield with Lewis Travis (Calf) and David Ozoh (Injury) both out.
- Attacking Absences: Top scorer Carlton Morris is out, a huge loss. Rhian Brewster is listed as questionable/inactive, meaning the goalscoring burden falls on others.
- Full-back Issues: Owen Beck (Inactive) and Ryan Nyambe (if unavailable) leaves them light on the flanks.
- Key Man: Patrick Agyemang has been in fine form and will lead the line.
Leicester City:
- Defensive Crisis: Harry Souttar (Achilles) and Victor Kristiansen (Knock) are out. Caleb Okoli is inactive.21 Wout Faes is questionable with an injury; if he misses out, Jannik Vestergaard will need a new partner, possibly Ben Nelson (if fit) or Ricardo Pereira filling in.
- Midfield Doubts: Aaron Ramsey is out with a hamstring injury.
- Attack: Patson Daka and Stephy Mavididi are fit and will need to carry the attacking threat.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Head to Head
- 23 Jul 2022: Derby 1–3 Leicester (Friendly)
- 09 Feb 2017: Leicester 3–1 Derby (FA Cup)
- 28 Jan 2017: Derby 2–2 Leicester (FA Cup)
- 11 Jan 2014: Leicester 4–1 Derby (Championship)
- 25 Sep 2013: Leicester 2–1 Derby (EFL Cup)
- Analysis: Leicester have dominated this fixture over the last decade, but Derby’s current home form levels the playing field significantly.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Predicted Lineups
Derby County (3-5-2):
Eustace sticks to his wing-back system to overload Leicester’s fragile wide areas.
- GK: Jacob Zetterström24
- CB: Curtis Nelson (assuming fit/available as not in ‘will not play’)
- CB: Eiran Cashin
- CB: Sonny Bradley
- RWB: Kane Wilson
- CM: Ebou Adams25
- CM: Kenzo Goudmijn26
- CM: Ben Osborn27
- LWB: Callum Elder28
- ST: Jerry Yates (or Agyemang)
- ST: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (C)
Leicester City (4-2-3-1):
Cifuentes relies on individual quality in the final third.
- GK: Mads Hermansen (or Begovic if rotated) -> Likely Asmir Begovic based on recent trends.
- RB: Ricardo Pereira (C)29
- CB: Jannik Vestergaard30
- CB: Wout Faes (if fit, else Coady/Justin shift)31
- LB: Luke Thomas32
- CDM: Harry Winks33
- CDM: Jordan James34
- RW: Abdul Fatawu35
- CAM: Bobby De Cordova-Reid36
- LW: Stephy Mavididi37
- ST: Patson Daka38
Derby County vs Leicester City — Impact Bench Options
Derby County:
- Lars-Jørgen Salvesen: A physical presence who can cause chaos in the box late in games.
- Corey Blackett-Taylor: Offers blistering pace against tired legs.
Leicester City:
- Jordan Ayew: Experienced forward who can hold the ball up if Leicester are under pressure.
- Hamza Choudhury: Can be brought on to shore up the midfield and add aggression in a derby atmosphere.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Tactical Outlook
Derby County:
- Playing Style: High Energy Press. Eustace will instruct his team to press Leicester’s backline aggressively. With Vestergaard lacking pace, Mendez-Laing and Yates will look to run in behind constantly.
- Weakness: Midfield Control. Without Travis and Ozoh, Derby might struggle to keep the ball if Winks and James get into a rhythm.
Leicester City:
- Playing Style: Possession with Risk. Cifuentes wants to play out from the back, but confidence is low. If they lose the ball in their own third (which they have done frequently recently), Derby will punish them.
- Strength: Transition Speed. Fatawu and Mavididi are two of the best wingers in the league. If they get isolated 1v1 against Derby’s wing-backs, they will create chances.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Nathaniel Mendez-Laing vs. Luke Thomas | Experience vs. Youth: Mendez-Laing is powerful and tricky. Thomas has struggled defensively. This is Derby’s main route to goal. | Derby |
| Harry Winks vs. Ebou Adams | The Metronome vs. The Disruptor: Winks wants to dictate; Adams wants to destroy. Adams’ physical style could unsettle Winks. | Tie |
| Stephy Mavididi vs. Kane Wilson | Pace Duel: Wilson loves to attack, leaving space behind. Mavididi will feast on that space if Derby aren’t careful. | Leicester |
Derby County vs Leicester City — Spotlight Players
Eiran Cashin (Derby County):
The young center-back is the heart of Derby’s defense. In a derby match, his composure and aggression will be vital to stop Patson Daka.
Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City):
The Ghanaian winger is Leicester’s most dangerous creative outlet. With 3 goals and 5 assists this season, he is the one player who can produce a moment of magic to silence the Pride Park crowd.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Fan Reactions
Derby Fans:
“Leicester are there for the taking. They’re soft at the back. Get into them early and Pride Park will carry us home.”
“No Carlton Morris hurts, but Agyemang and Mendez-Laing have enough pace to trouble Vestergaard.”
Leicester Fans:
“Cifuentes needs a win. If we lose to Derby, the season is effectively over.”
“Our defense is a shambles. I’m terrified of what Derby will do to us on set pieces.”
Derby County vs Leicester City — Match-Defining Factors
- The Early Goal: Leicester’s confidence is brittle. If Derby score first, the visitors could collapse (as seen vs Sheffield Utd).
- Set Pieces: Derby are strong aerially (Cashin, Nelson, Bradley). Leicester have struggled to defend corners all season.
- Refereeing: Josh Smith lets the game flow. This suits Derby’s physical style more than Leicester’s technical approach.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Prediction
Score Prediction: Derby County 2–1 Leicester City
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Derby County Double Chance (1X).
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Both defenses are leaking goals).
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals (Derby’s last 6 games have all gone over 2.5).
Analysis: Momentum is everything in the Championship. Derby have it; Leicester don’t. The Rams’ physical style and home advantage should be enough to overpower a fragile Leicester side that is missing key defensive leaders. It will be tight, but Eustace’s men should edge it.
Derby County vs Leicester City — Final Word
This East Midlands Derby feels like a pivotal moment for both clubs. Derby County have the chance to make a real statement and push for the top half, while Leicester City are fighting to stop their season from spiraling. Expect passion, noise, and a home victory that deepens the gloom at the King Power.
Derby County vs Leicester City — FAQs
When is the Derby vs Leicester match?
The match kicks off on Saturday, 06 December 2025, at 12:30 GMT.
Is Carlton Morris playing?
No, Carlton Morris is out with an injury.
Is Wout Faes playing?
He is listed as Questionable with an injury but is included in some predicted lineups. It will be a late decision.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can stream the match live on FanCode.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Will the Rams rule the East Midlands, or can the Foxes bite back? Drop your score predictions below!
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